The Databases of Chemical Abstracts Service on Six Hosts

Abstract

Along with STN, five other hosts offer Chemical Abstracts Service databases, but often under different names. Depending on the hosts structures, the Chemical Abstracts may e.g. be searchable in one single file or be divided up into their respective Chemical Abstracts collective periods, as is the case for DATA-STAR, DIALOG and ORBIT. As every host has worked out a retrieval language of its own and has edited the records in its own way, it may happen to a searcher that the same query carried out in the same stock of records but on different hosts, may generate different results. STN e.g. is the only host which places the systematic name after the Registry Number. When searching in the Basic Index for polystyrene maleic anhydride copolymers, QUESTEL will provide 1785 matches, while STN will give over 2630. Other hosts add the molecular formula to the Registry Number. A search result is much easier and much more reliable when using the name.